New York City is restricted with red tape and now notorious for a spate of LGBT hate crimes in neighborhoods that are supposed to be safe. And so Christine Quinn says she is impatient for change.

The city has never had an openly gay mayor before, but Quinn sees being part of the LGBT community as an asset for her résumé. "I think when anybody is a member of a community that hasn't necessarily had a seat at a particular table before, you're mindful of that," she says, "and you're mindful of bringing in people and trying to govern and lead in a way that is more inclusive."

Tough in her decision-making and controversial on more than a few topics, Quinn talked recently with Here TV's Jim Morrison — host of For & Against — about the importance of LGBT rights, New York real estate improvements, education, and affordable housing. She's looking to revise and aggressively improve policies that have either taken a backseat or been ignored for far too long.